Pedal construction and unicycle incorporating same



April 14, 1970 CHUN-Yl TANT 3,505,283

PEDAL CONSTRUCTION AND UNICYCLE INCORPORATING SAME Filed Dec. 6, 1967 22 INVENTOR ('Hl/IV- V/ IAA/ 9:59.41. WMQM A'ITORN EYS United States Patent l 3,506,283 PEDAL CONSTRUCTION AND UNICYCLE INCORPORATING SAME Chun-Yi Tang, 7443 S. 132nd St., Seattle, Wash. 98178 Filed Dec. 6. 1967, Ser. No. 694,768 Int. Cl. B62k 1/00 U.S. Cl. 280--22ll 24 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A unicycle having a pair of spaced wheel discs preferably encircled by vinyl or like rims and being spaced from one another and braced by a pair of diametrically opposed blocks of rectangular or circular cross-section. The discs and bracer blocks or circular cross-section. The discs and bracer blocks have aligned /2 diameter bores and tie bolts are positioned in the bores. Each bolt has a threaded end securely fastened to one of said discs and an outboard end extending laterally outward of a collar engaging the other of said discs. The bolt heads are at remote ends of said bolts and said outboard ends extend outwardly in opposite directions from said discs. The outwardly disposed, spaced bolt head and collar provide the journal limits of a rotatable footrest or pedal, preferably having a cylindrical sleeve in engagement with the bolt. The rotatable footrest is of molded or extruded rubber or plastic, or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention pertains to an improved unicycle and also to pedal constructions for various types of cycles, particularly unicycles.

escription of the prior art Spaced rim type prior art unicycles, such as shown in my Patent No. 3,190,675, are enjoying increasing usage, both as toys and as exercise devices by skiers, surfers and the like, but are expensive to manufacture in many forms and, because of the very substantial forces applied during use, are susceptible to damage, especially when the unicycle is ridden by a heavy adult. The pedals and the rim portion of the wheel discs in the vicinity of the pedals are particularly susceptible to damage since the weight of the body is applied to the unicycle while the unicycle is tipped on one rim.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is an improved unicycle construction that employs inexpensive, easy to fabricate parts, and a preferred set of dimensional characteristics for withstanding the stresses produced when the unicycle is used by heavy adults. In addition, the invention pertains to a unitary pedal construction wherein the footrests are rotatably mounted on axles in the form of elongate bolts of standard form. Each footrest is held against sidewise movement of the head of the bolt and by a collar means. When used with a unicycle the bolt means and collar means also serve as clamps to hold the wheel discs and associated wheel spacers of the unicycle together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an isometric of a unicycle embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the unicycle shown in FIG. 1;

3,506,283 Patented Apr. 14, 1970 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, a unicycle 10 is formed of a pair of spaced, parallel wheel discs 12 having their outer peripheral edges covered by rims 14, fabricated of vinyl, rubber or the like. The discs may be of plywood, pressed board, plastic or other suitable material of high strength, and each is provided with a set of diametrically opposed /2" diameter bores 16 (FIG. 2). The bores of each disc are aligned with the bores of the other disc and with center bores 18 of two diametrically opposed spacers 20. The spacers in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 are rectangular blocks, cut from 2" x 3" or 2" x 4" finished lumber. As will be understood, the finished thickness dimension of so-called 2" finished lumber is actually about 1 /2".

The wheel discs 12 are also held together by a pair of axles or elongated bolts 22. Each bolt has a threaded end 24 screwed into an inset type nut 26 fitted tightly into a counter bore 28 in each respective wheel disc. Each bolt is also provided with an outboard end 30 terminating in a wrench-engageable head 32. The wrench-engageable head advantageously permits turning of the bolt at a point outboardly of the discs. Each head is preferably covered by a plastic or rubber cap 33. Collar means 34 circumscribes the outboard end and is fastened thereto in tight engagement against the outside surface of the second disc. A small hole or dimple 38 is preferably provided in the bolt 18 to enable positioning and locking of each collar by means of a set screw 36 (FIG. 2). As can be readily seen, the collar can be first set on the bolt adjacent the disc and the bolt 18 threaded into the nut 26 so as to draw the discs and associated spacer brace 20 together into a strong, rigid assembly. Considering each disc 12 to be what may be termed a pedal support means, the collar means 34 can be similarly described as a pedal support abutment means, and in this context can also be in the form of a ring or washer spot welded to the axle, or a cotter key through the bolt, if desired, although a set collar, as shown, is the preferred form.

An important aspect of the simplified construction of the pedal is best shown in FIG. 2, wherein the collar 34 also acts as an abutment to permit free rotation of, yet restrain sidewise movement of a footrest 40. The footrest is preferably molded or extruded plastic or rubber, but may be of other suitable non-slip materials, with or without metal reinforcement. Each footrest has a centerbore 42. Although not essential, a metallic sleeve 44 is preferably pressed into each centerbore 42 and is slidingly mounted on the outboard end of each bolt between the collar and the head. Preferably, also, the sleeves when used extend axially outwardly of the footrests to provide bearing surfaces for slidingly engaging the head and collar.

The construction of the modified form of the unicycle shown in FIG. 5 is identical to that of the preferred em-\ bodiment with the exception that the spacers 20' are cylindrical in form, being suitably cut from finished 2" (actually about 1 /2" actual diameter) or larger dowel stock, center bored to provide a /2" hole for the mounting bolt 22. In otherwise similar manner to the assembly shown in FIGS. 1-4, this unicycle assembly comprises wheel discs 12, mounting rims 14' and held in braced, spaced relation by the spacers 20 and associated bolts 22'.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form, it is understood that various modifications and changes in the structural details shown and discussed may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A pedal for a cycle or the like comprising:

(a) an elongate bolt of standard form and having a Wrench-engageable head and a threaded end opposite said head;

(b) first pedal support engaging means on said bolt and spaced thereon intermediately between the said head and the bolt threaded end;

() second pedal support engaging means at said threaded end; and

(d) a footrest rotatably mounted on said bolt between said head and said first pedal supported engaging means.

2. A pedal as defined in claim 1, wherein said bolt is at least about one-half inch in diameter.

3. A pedal as defined by claim 1, wherein said footrest includes a sleeve mounted on said bolt with its ends extending outwardly of the footrest.

4. A pedal as defined by claim 1, wherein said bolt is provided with a side recess and said first pedal supported engaging means includes set collar with screw means lockingly engaged in said side recess.

5. The pedal as defined by claim 1, further including a non-metallic cap covering said head.

6. The pedal as defined by claim 1, wherein said footrest is molded plastic or the like.

7. The pedal as defined by claim 6, wherein said footrest is extruded plastic or the like.

8. A unicycle comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced, parallel and axially aligned discs;

(b) diametrically opposed spacer means separating said discs, said spacer means each being provided with a central bore;

(c) said discs each being provided with a pair of bores communicating with the bores in said spacer means;

(d) bolt means positioned in said bores and extending laterally outward of said discs for supporting footrests, each said bolt means including a bolt of standard form with a wrench-engaging head and a threaded end, each said bolt having disc abutment means on said bolt in spaced relation to said head and in pressure engagement with one of said discs, the threaded end of said bolt carrying nut means engaging the other of said discs; and

(e) footrests rotatably mounted on said bolt means between said disc abutment means and the bolt head.

9. A unicycle according to claim 8, wherein each said bolt is at least about one-half inch in diameter.

10. The unicycle defined by claim 9, wherein each said spacer means is a wood block of rectangular cross-section, and has a minimum lateral dimension of at least about one and one-half inches.

11. The unicycle defined by claim 8, wherein each said spacer means is of cylindrical form and is at least about one and one-half inches in cross-sectional diameter.

12. The unicycle defined by claim 8, wherein each said footrest includes a metal sleeve rotatably mounted on said axle.

13. The unicycle defined by claim 8, wherein said abutment'means is in the form of a removable collar.

14. A unicycle as defined by claim 8, wherein said bolt is provided with a side recess and said abutment means includes set collar with screw means lockingly engaged in said side recess.

15. The unicycle as defined by claim 8, further including a non-metallic cap covering the bolt head.

16. The unicycle as defined by claim 8, wherein said footrest is molded plastic or the like.

17. The unicycle as defined by claim 16, wherein said footrest is extruded plastic or the like.

18. A unicycle comprising:

(a) a pair of spaced, parallel and axially aligned discs;

(b) diametrically opposed spacer means separating said discs, said spacer means each being provided with a bore at least about one-half inch in diameter;

(0) said discs each being provided with a pair of bores axially aligned with and of like diameter as the bores in said spacer means;

((1) support means positioned in said bores and extending laterally outward of said discs for supporting footrests; and

(e) footrests pivotally mounted on said support means.

19. The unicycle defined by claim 18, wherein each said spacer means is a wood block having a minimum lateral dimension of at least about one and one-half inches.

20. The unicycle defined by claim 18, wherein each said spacer means is of cylindrical form and at least about one and one-half inches in diameter.

21. The unicycle defined by claim 18, wherein said means for supporting said footrests each includes an elongated axle having a head and a threaded end;

(a) disc abutment means on said axle in spaced relation to said head and in pressure engagement with one of said discs; and

(b) a nut threaded on said threaded end and interconnecting said axle and the other of said discs.

22. The unicycle defined by claim 21, wherein each said footrest includes a sleeve rotatably mounted on said axle.

23. In a unicycle comprising a pair of spaced, parallel, axially aligned wheel discs with diametrically opposed spacer means separating and bracing said discs and with pedal mounting bolt means passing through bores in the discs and spacer means, the improvement wherein the diameter of said bolt means within said spacer means is at least about one-half inch and wherein each of said spacer means has a minimum lateral dimension of at least about one and one-half inches.

24. A unicycle as defined in claim 23, wherein said bolt means comprises a bolt of standard form, and removable disc abutment means disposed intermediatel of the wrench-receiving head and the threaded end of the bolt.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 473,030 4/1892 Sweetland 74594.4 1,286,539 12/1918 Colon 280259 1,333,292 3/1920 Case 280-259 2,084,373 6/1937 Anderson 74594.4 3,039,791 6/1962 Horowitz et al. 74594.1 X 3,107,926 10/1963 Verge 280-221 3,133,749 5/1964 OBarski 280291 3,190,675 6/1965 Tang 280221 3,192,794 7/1965 Counts 74562.5 X

KENNETH H. BETTS, Primary Examiner US. 01. X.R. 7 2-5944; 280-259 

